Device for forming groups of cigarettes

ABSTRACT

Cigarettes are formed into groups by a device comprising a hopper through which to direct a flow of cigarettes, a conveyor with pockets moving intermittently past a discharge outlet of the hopper, and a reciprocating pusher located on the side of the hopper opposite from the conveyor by which a portion of the flow corresponding to one group is directed with each forward stroke into a respective pocket. To avoid damage of the kind often associated with sliding contact and axial compression, the cigarettes adjacent to those ejected by the pusher are restrained when their cylindrical surfaces are attracted by suction generated through ports located inside the hopper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for forming groups ofcigarettes.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a device for theformation of cigarettes into groups, each constituting the contents ofone packet.

[0003] Conventionally, the basic element in a system for feedingcigarettes to a packer consists in a hopper affording a top inlet intowhich the cigarettes are directed en masse, horizontally and side byside, and a discharge outlet from which the cigarettes are removed ingroups made up of a predetermined number.

[0004] The groups of cigarettes, appearing as a single layer or aplurality of layers positioned one on top of another, are supplied to awrapping line by means of an intermittently driven conveyor devicefurnished with a plurality of uniformly distributed pockets eachdesigned to contain a relative group.

[0005] The hopper in question comprises two side walls extendingparallel to the axes of the cigarettes, interconnected by two transversewalls disposed mutually parallel and separated one from the other by adistance marginally greater than the length of one cigarette. The bottomof the hopper presents at least one outlet enclosed by a horizontalplate and partitioned by substantially vertical and mutually parallelwalls into a plurality of channels inside of which the massed contentsof the hopper separate and form substantially vertical stacks of singlecigarettes.

[0006] Considered in relation to the plate, therefore, the cigarettesappear ordered in horizontal layers each consisting in a number ofcigarettes equal to the number of channels and disposed at increasingheights departing from the bottom layer, which lies in contact with theplate.

[0007] During each pause of the intermittently driven conveyor ahorizontal reciprocating pusher, located on the side of the hopperremote from the conveyor, advances axially through an inlet openingafforded by one of the aforementioned transverse walls and enters intocontact with one or more layers of the cigarettes, pushing them throughan outlet opening afforded by the remaining transverse wall and into apocket of the conveyor.

[0008] In this way, a group of cigarettes is formed in the pocket,consisting in a single layer or in two or more layers disposed one ontop of another.

[0009] Groups consisting in a plurality of layers can also be formed bydirecting layers into a pocket singly and in succession, one on top ofanother, from a hopper with discrete discharge outlets corresponding innumber to the number of layers.

[0010] In both of the cases mentioned, the cigarettes ejected from thehopper by the reciprocating pusher are caused to slide in contact withthe cigarettes inside the hopper positioned immediately above theoutlet, which in their turn combine to form another layer.

[0011] As a consequence of the friction generated by the sliding contactbetween the ejected cigarettes, which are displaced at a relatively highvelocity, and the stationary cigarettes lying adjacent to them, thestationary cigarettes are urged axially against a restraint afforded bythe inside face of the front transverse wall with the result that theends can be crushed and shreds of tobacco filler lost.

[0012] Once the pusher has regained its former position, the cigarettessubjected to this damaging axial compression are free to drop into theoutlet of the hopper and their inclusion in the layers displaced duringthe next cycle of the pusher can result in the formation of a defectivegroup, which will be eliminated during subsequent steps of the process.

[0013] Reference has been made thus far to the case of groups consistingin a single layer and of groups consisting in a plurality of layers allcomprising an identical number of cigarettes, whereas in the majority ofcases the contents of a packet of cigarettes will consist in a pluralityof layers comprising dissimilar numbers of cigarettes.

[0014] For instance, the contents of a soft packet of twenty cigaretteswill consist generally in a group comprising two outer layers of sevencigarettes each and an intermediate layer of six cigarettes. Groups madeup in this way present a particularly stable structure since thecigarettes are arranged quincuncially.

[0015] Very commonplace likewise are groups of twenty cigarettesincluding two contiguous layers of seven cigarettes and one outer layerof six cigarettes. Such a group will constitute the typical contents ofa rigid packet with a hinged lid, given that the particular geometryenables a faultless closure of this style of packet.

[0016] Another reason for using groups formed of layers comprisingdifferent numbers of cigarettes is that in the event of an increase inproduction costs or of taxes, especially in countries where cigarettevending machines are in widespread use, the retail price can bemaintained and the adjustment made by changing the contents of thepacket, reducing the number of cigarettes in at least one layer of thegroup as appropriate. This naturally obviates the need to makealterations to the vending machine.

[0017] The prior art method of forming irregular groups, that is to saygroups made up of layers containing different numbers of cigarettes,involves the use of pushers shaped in such a way that when entering thedischarge outlet of the hopper they will engage only the cigarettesdestined to make up the group.

[0018] Since however this expedient does not preclude the possibilitythat one or more cigarettes, albeit isolated from the action of thepusher, might be drawn forward by the adjacent cigarettes throughfriction and find their way into the pocket on the conveyor, the outletof the hopper is equipped with restraints in the form of projecting finsdisposed in alignment with the positions occupied by the excludedcigarettes.

[0019] Such a solution thus involves axial compression and the risk ofdamage to the restrained cigarettes in the same way as describedpreviously.

[0020] It will be clear from the foregoing that the drawback describedwith reference to the formation of a group, whether a single layer or aplurality of layers arranged one on top of the other, all of whichcomprising an identical number of cigarettes, can become especiallyserious in the case of groups composed of layers comprising dissimilarnumbers of single cigarettes, given the increased number of cigarettesthat are subject to the damaging axial compression induced by therestraints.

[0021] The object of the present invention is to provide a device forforming groups of cigarettes such as will be free of the aforementioneddrawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The stated object is realized according to the present inventionin a device for forming groups of cigarettes, comprising a hopperthrough which to direct a flow of cigarettes disposed horizontally sideby side and advancing each in a direction transverse to its longitudinalaxis toward at least one discharge outlet of the hopper enclosed at thebottom by a substantially horizontal plate and laterally by two sidewalls disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis, fitted internally witha plurality of partition walls disposed substantially parallel to theside walls and defining a plurality of channels between the side wallsof width equal substantially to the diameter of one cigarette, also apocket conveyor moving transversely to the direction of the flow, and areciprocating transfer device capable of movement in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axis through a transfer station coincidingwith the outlet, by which a portion of the flow is engaged during eachforward stroke and transferred from the hopper to a respective pocket toform a group.

[0023] To advantage, the device comprises restraining means designed toprevent a relative axial sliding movement of the cigarettes, actingtransversely to the axis and activated during each forward stroke of thetransfer device at a location coinciding with at least one of thepredetermined positions occupied internally of the hopper by thecigarettes in contact with the portion of the flow engaged by thetransfer device.

[0024] Another drawback that can be encountered with hoppers of the typein question is that particles of tobacco filler collect on the bottomplate and lodge between the plate and the cigarettes; this occasionsincorrect positioning of the cigarettes and thus disallows the correctformation of the group of cigarettes.

[0025] A further object of the present invention is to overcome thisdrawback.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example,with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027]FIG. 1 illustrates a device embodied according to the presentinvention, viewed in perspective;

[0028]FIG. 2 illustrates the device of FIG. 1, in perspective, viewedwith certain parts omitted for clarity and during a different step ofoperation;

[0029]FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0030]FIG. 4 is the section on a detail of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

[0031]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device shownin FIGS. 1 to 4, viewed in section;

[0032]FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views, in elevation and in planrespectively, of a further embodiment of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to5;

[0033]FIG. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the device according tothe present invention, viewed in elevation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 1 denotes adevice, in its entirety, for forming groups of cigarettes 2 each makingup the contents of one packet.

[0035] The device 1 comprises a hopper 3 (a bottom end portion only isindicated in the drawings) through which to direct a continuous flow ofcigarettes disposed horizontally and side by side.

[0036] The hopper 3 is compassed by two side walls 4 and 5 extendingparallel to the axes of the cigarettes, interconnected by a front wall 6and a rear wall 7 disposed transversely to the side walls 4 and 5 andseparated one from another by a distance marginally greater than thelength of one cigarette.

[0037] The lower extremity of the hopper 3, referred to as a dischargeoutlet and denoted 8, is enclosed horizontally by a bottom plate 9 andpartitioned internally by a plurality of substantially vertical walls 10separated one from the next by a distance nominally equal to thediameter of one cigarette. Thus, the bottom end of the hopper 3 isdivided up between the two side walls 4 and 5 into a plurality ofchannels 11 inside of which the cigarettes 2 are disposed insubstantially vertical columns.

[0038] Considered in relation to the bottom plate 9, accordingly, thecigarettes 2 appear ordered in horizontal layers 12 as illustrated toadvantage in FIG. 4, consisting in a number of cigarettes 2 equal to thenumber of channels 11 and disposed at increasing heights departing froma first or bottom layer 12 a resting directly on the plate 9, with asecond layer 12 b resting on the first layer 12 a and a third layer 12 cresting on the second layer 12 b.

[0039] The plate 9 presents a plurality of flutes 13 aligned with theoutlets of the channels 11, each appearing semicircular in section andof diameter substantially identical to the diameter of a singlecigarette 2; each flute 13 in turn is furnished with a plurality ofthrough holes 14 emerging into a chamber 15 beneath and connected to asource 16 of negative pressure by way of a pipeline 17 fitted with valvemeans 18 interlocked to a master control unit 19 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0040] The front and rear walls 6 and 7 present relative bottomhorizontal edges 20 positioned substantially on a level with the layerof cigarettes fourth from bottom, in such a way as to create tworespective openings 21 and 22 between the selfsame edges and the bottomplate 9, axially aligned one with the other and affording access to theinside of the hopper 3.

[0041] Also indicated is a conveyor 23 aligned with the bottom of thedischarge outlet 8 on the side of the front wall 6 and consisting in abelt loop. More exactly, the drawings illustrate the top horizontalbranch 24 of the belt which extends transversely to the axes of thecigarettes 2, occupying the same plane as the plate 9, and is drivenintermittently in a direction denoted D by means not illustrated in thedrawings.

[0042] The conveyor 23 carries a number of substantially parallelepipedpockets 25 spaced along its length at a predetermined pitch and servingto accommodate respective groups 26 of cigarettes, as will be made clearin due course.

[0043] The pockets 25 present four walls arranged in two parallel pairsextending transversely to the top branch 24, or more exactly two largerhorizontal walls 27 and two smaller vertical walls 28, and are open attwo opposite ends of which one faces the hopper 3.

[0044] Internally of the single pocket 25, each of the two smaller walls28 presents a horizontal rib 29 positioned intermediately in relation tothe two larger walls and exhibiting a splay 30 at the end directedtoward the hopper 3.

[0045] The pitch of the conveyor 23 is selected in such a way that witheach step indexed, a pocket 25 will move into a transfer position 31aligned axially with the openings 21 and 22 of the hopper dischargeoutlet 8.

[0046] Also forming part of the device 1 disclosed is a reciprocatingtransfer device 32 stationed on the side of the hopper 3 remote from theconveyor 23, comprising a horizontal shaft 33 capable of axial movementbrought about by reciprocating actuator means 34 in a direction D1normal to the conveying direction D, and a pusher 35 mounted to the freeend of the shaft 33.

[0047] The pusher 35 presents a plurality of fingers 36 equal in numberto the number of the channels 11, being seven in the exampleillustrated, disposed horizontally one alongside the next and extendingalong the aforementioned direction D1 of movement toward respectivechannels 11 of the outlet 8, of which the forward most ends present flatfaces 37 lying in a common vertical plane parallel to the rear wall 7 ofthe hopper.

[0048] Each of the first six fingers 36, viewing left to right in FIGS.1 and 3, presents a substantially rectangular section with rounded endsof which the horizontal dimension is marginally less than the width ofthe single channel 11, and the vertical dimension equal to three timesthe diameter of one cigarette.

[0049] The seventh finger 36 is embodied as a fork 38 comprising twoprongs 39 of circular cross section aligned vertically one with anotherand of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a singlecigarette 2, which are separated one from the other by a distance equallikewise to the diameter of one cigarette 2.

[0050] The pusher 32 is reciprocated by the actuator means 34 between aretracted position lying outside the dimensional compass of the hopper3, and an operating position in which the free ends of the fingers 36,passing through the openings 22 and 21 and along the channels 11, reachthe open end of a pocket 25 occupying the transfer position 31.

[0051] One side wall 5 of the hopper 3 is furnished with a groove 40 onthe inside, which presents a concave face offered to the relativechannel 11 and extends parallel to the transfer direction D1 at a heightcoinciding with the level of the position occupied by a cigarettebelonging to the second layer 12 b, that is to say separated from thesurface of the plate 9 by a distance substantially equal to the diameterof one cigarette 2 (see also FIG. 4).

[0052] The same side wall 5 is also furnished with a plurality ofthrough holes 41 arranged along the groove 40 and forming part of apneumatic circuit denoted 42 in its entirety.

[0053] Also forming part of the pneumatic circuit 42 is a chamber 43located externally of and adjacent to the side wall 5, connected to thechannel 11 by way of the holes 41, and a pipeline 44 equipped with valvemeans 45 by way of which the chamber 43 can be connected to a source 46of negative pressure.

[0054] These valve means 45 also are interlocked to the master controlunit 19.

[0055] The pneumatic circuit 42 constitutes a part of restraining means47 intended to disallow the axial sliding motion of certain cigarettes 2during the formation of the group 26.

[0056] In operation of the device thus described, the cycle resulting inthe formation of a group 26 of cigarettes will depart from an initialsituation in which the cigarettes are ordered in stacks inside the sevenchannels 11 of the hopper 3, a pocket 25 of the conveyor 23 is stationedin readiness at the transfer position 31, and the pusher 32 is in theretracted position outside the dimensional compass of the hopper 3.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the actuator means 34 come intooperation and the pusher 32 moves forward toward the hopper 3, passingthrough the opening 22 and into the channels 11.

[0058] The effect of the movement is to eject a portion of the flow ofcigarettes 2 from the hopper 3. More exactly, six fingers 36 of thepusher 32 will each eject three stacked cigarettes whilst the seventhfinger 36, the fork 38, engages and ejects only two cigarettes 2, one ofwhich belonging to the bottom layer 12 a in contact with the plate 9 andthe other belonging to the third layer 12 c, without touching the layer12 b in between. At the same time, the control unit 19 pilots the valvemeans 45 to open and connect the groove 40 with the source 46 ofnegative pressure by way of the pipeline 44.

[0059] The cylindrical surface of the cigarette 2 lying adjacent to thegroove now becomes subject to the force of suction generated through theholes 41, with the result that the cigarette is restrained internally ofthe hopper 3, notwithstanding the dragging action of the cigarette 2above and the cigarette 2 beneath.

[0060] With the adoption of restraining means 47 acting transversely onthe cylindrical surface of the cigarettes 2, it becomes possible todispense with the need for axial stops of whatever description asemployed conventionally, and thus avoid subjecting the cigarettes todamaging forces of compression. A group of twenty cigarettes comprisingtwo outer layers of seven cigarettes and one intermediate layer of sixcigarettes is thus ejected from the hopper 3 and, as the pusher 32reaches its travel limit, directed into the pocket 25 occupying thetransfer position 31.

[0061] As the group is inserted into the pocket 25, the intermediatelayer 12 b is forced by the two ribs 29 with their splays 30 to shiftsideways in relation to the adjacent top layer 12 c and bottom layer 12a, causing the twenty ejected cigarettes 2 to assume a more stablecomposition overall.

[0062] A group of this type, appearing as a plurality of interlockingquincunxes and denoted 26, is shown in FIG. 1 occupying a pocket 25located downstream of the transfer position 31.

[0063] Following the insertion of the group 26 into the pocket 25, theconveyor 23 indexes and brings an empty pocket 25 into the transferposition 31, the pusher 32 simultaneously vacating the hopper 3 and thusallowing the cigarettes above to drop down the channels 11 and fill thespaces occupied previously by the cigarettes 2 of the group justejected. In particular, the cigarette 2 restrained hitherto in thegroove 40 drops to the bottom of the outlet and into a position ofcontact with the plate 9.

[0064] As the cigarettes descend, the control unit 19 pilots the one setof valve means 45 to shut off the suction generated along the groove 40,and the other valve means 18 to connect the flutes 13 with thecorresponding source of negative pressure 16 by way of the holes 14 andthe relative circuit 17.

[0065] The suction generated along the flutes 13 serves to acceleratethe descent of the cigarettes 2.

[0066] To this end, it is observably expedient that the source ofnegative pressure 16 should be connected at least to the ends of theflutes 13 nearer the pusher 32, and more precisely the ends nearer theopening 22 of the rear wall 7, in such a way that the cigarettes will bepositioned correctly and immediately when the pusher is retracted. Asthe pusher returns to the retracted position, in fact, the forwardmostpart of each cigarette in contact with the top of the pusher will befreed first, and the rearwardmost part of the cigarette thereafter. Thismeans that as the forwardmost part of the cigarette can drop unhinderedby gravity into the relative flute 13, the rearwardmost part remainselevated by the pusher 32 and it can happen that as the pusher 32 isfully retracted, at least one or more of the cigarettes in question willfall skew, causing a jam during the subsequent forward stroke of thepusher 32.

[0067] The suction generated along the flutes 13 serves also to removeany particles of tobacco filler that may collect in the selfsame flutes13 during the descent of the cigarettes 2.

[0068] To this end, as discernible in FIG. 7, each flute 13 is furnishedadditionally with a slot 51 of elongated appearance extending parallelto the longitudinal axis of the cigarette 2.

[0069] In particular, each flute 13 can be embodied both with aplurality of holes 14 and with at least one slot 51 substantiallyaligned with the holes and occupying a position near to the opening 22in the rear wall 7 of the discharge outlet 8. The slot 51 can beconnected either to the aforementioned source 16 of negative pressure,by way of the relative pneumatic circuit 17, or to an independent vacuumcircuit (not illustrated) with respective valve means (not illustrated)that will come into operation at predetermined intervals, or wheneverneeded, to connect the slot 51 to the corresponding source of negativepressure.

[0070] The description thus far relates to the formation of aseven-six-seven type group such as will be wrapped in a soft or crushstyle of packet.

[0071] In the case of a group of twenty cigarettes for a rigid packet,that is to say with two adjacent layers of seven cigarettes and oneouter layer of six cigarettes, the device 1 as described above will bemodified in such a way as to restrain the cigarette 2 positioned aboveand adjacent to the cigarette identified in the previous example, andthus reduce the number of cigarettes in the third layer 12 c to six.

[0072] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the groove 40 furnishedwith the holes 41 connected to the source 46 of negative pressure willbe located at a height coinciding with the third layer 12 c ofcigarettes, and the relative finger 36 (not shown) of the pusher 32 willno longer appear as a fork 38 but with a substantially rectangularsection having rounded ends similar to that of the remaining six fingers36, albeit exhibiting a shorter vertical dimension, i.e. equivalent totwice the diameter of a single cigarette, so that the one predeterminedcigarette will be excluded from the pushing action Following theirinsertion into the pocket 25, in this instance furnished with two ribs29 at a level corresponding to that of the third layer 12 c, the twentycigarettes will appear as in the example of FIG. 5b, where the group isdenoted 48.

[0073] In the example of FIGS. 6 and 7, a cigarette is excluded not froman end channel 11 but from one of the intermediate channels, and inparticular from the third channel 11, omitted in this instance from thesecond layer 12 b.

[0074] One of the two partition walls 10 compassing the channel 11 inquestion is provided with a groove 40 positioned at a heightcorresponding to that of the excluded cigarette, running parallel to thepushing direction D1 and exhibiting holes 41 connected to a duct 49located inside the wall 10 and thence to the relative pneumatic circuit42. As the excluded cigarette 2 belongs to the intermediate layer 12 b,the finger 36 destined to enter the corresponding channel 11 consists ina fork similar to the fork 38 described previously.

[0075] Following their insertion into the pocket 25, in this instancehaving no ribs, the twenty cigarettes will appear as in the example ofFIG. 6b, where the group is denoted 50.

[0076] In the example of FIG. 6, transversely acting restraining means47 according to the invention are located in alignment with thepositions occupied by all the cigarettes making up the layer immediatelyabove the third layer 12 c.

[0077] This has the effect, whatever the type of group formed by thedevice 1, of ensuring the cigarettes making up the layer in question arenot compressed axially against the inside face of the front wall 6 whenthe fingers 36 move forward, yet without the need to eliminate the wall6.

[0078] Finally, FIG. 8 illustrates a device of the type utilized to forma group 26 of cigarettes by depositing single layers one on top ofanother internally of the pocket 25 as it pauses alongside three outletsdenoted 8 a, 8 b and 8 c respectively, of a single hopper 3.

[0079] In this case, transversely acting restraining means 47 arepositioned in alignment with a second layer of each of the threeoutlets, operating in exactly the same way as described in FIG. 6 insuch a way as to prevent the cigarettes of this same layer from beingcompressed axially against the front wall 6 of the respective outlet 8as each bottom layer in turn is transferred to the pocket.

What is claimed
 1. A device for forming groups of cigarettes,comprising: a hopper through which to direct a flow of cigarettesdisposed horizontally side by side and advancing each in a directiontransverse to its longitudinal axis toward at least one discharge outletof the hopper enclosed at the bottom by a substantially horizontal plateand laterally by two side walls lying parallel to the longitudinal axis,fitted internally with a plurality of partition walls disposedsubstantially parallel to the side walls and defining a plurality ofchannels between the selfsame side walls of width equal substantially tothe diameter of one cigarette; a pocket conveyor moving transversely tothe direction of the flow; a reciprocating transfer device capable ofmovement generated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axisthrough a transfer station coinciding with the outlet, by which aportion of the flow is engaged during each forward stroke andtransferred from the hopper to a respective pocket to form a group;restraining means able to prevent a relative axial sliding movement ofthe cigarettes, acting transversely to the axis and activated duringeach forward stroke of the transfer device at a location coinciding withat least one of the predetermined positions occupied internally of thehopper by the cigarettes in contact with the portion of the flow engagedby the transfer device.
 2. A device as in claim 1 , wherein thetransversely acting restraining means comprise a pneumatic circuitacting on the cylindrical surfaces of cigarettes occupying apredetermined position.
 3. A device as in claim 2 , wherein thepneumatic circuit comprises a source of negative pressure, and apipeline by which the selfsame source is connected to the inside of atleast one of the channels at a location coinciding with thepredetermined position.
 4. A device as in claim 3 , wherein thepneumatic circuit comprises valve means operating cyclically and to apredetermined timing sequence in conjunction with the transfer device.5. A device as in claim 4 , wherein the part of the pneumatic circuitrelative to a predetermined position comprises a duct located inside oneof the partition walls, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, andat least one hole by which the duct is connected to a channel of thehopper at a location coinciding with the predetermined position.
 6. Adevice as in claim 4 , wherein the part of the pneumatic circuitrelative to a predetermined position comprises at least one hole passingthrough one of the two side walls, by which the circuit is connected toa channel of the hopper at a location coinciding with the predeterminedposition.
 7. A device as in claim 5 or claim 6 , wherein thepredetermined position coincides with a groove extending parallel to thelongitudinal axis and presenting an arcuate section.
 8. A device as inclaims 1 to 7 , of which the hopper outlet is occupied by cigarettesarranged on the bottom plate in horizontal layers lying one on top ofanother and compassed between two mutually opposed walls of the hopperdisposed transversely to the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes,interconnecting the side walls and terminating in respective bottomedges combining with the plate and with the side walls to create twoopenings aligned on the axes and serving respectively to admit thetransfer device and to allow the ejection of a portion of the flowconsisting in at least one layer, wherein the transversely actingrestraining means are installed internally of each channel at locationscoinciding with the positions occupied by the cigarettes making up thelayer in contact with the ejected portion of the flow and substantiallyon a level with the bottom edges of the walls.
 9. A device as in claims1 to 8 , wherein the upwardly directed side of the plate is embodiedwith flutes each centered on a respective channel, extending parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the cigarette and presenting a concave facedirected toward the channel, and provided with at least one holeconnected to a source of negative pressure by way of a pneumatic circuitequipped with valve means operating cyclically and to a predeterminedtiming sequence in conjunction with the transfer device.
 10. A device asin claim 9 , wherein the at least one hole is located in a position onthe flute near the opening in the rear wall of the discharge outlet. 11.A device for forming groups of cigarettes, comprising a hopper throughwhich to direct a flow of cigarettes disposed horizontally side by sideand advancing each in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axistoward at least one discharge outlet of the hopper enclosed at thebottom by a substantially horizontal plate and laterally by two sidewalls disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis, fitted internally witha plurality of partition walls disposed substantially parallel to theside walls and defining a plurality of channels between the side wallsof width equal substantially to the diameter of one cigarette, also apocket conveyor moving transversely to the direction of the flow, and areciprocating transfer device capable of movement in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axis through a transfer station coincidingwith the outlet, by which a portion of the flow is engaged during eachforward stroke and transferred from the hopper to a respective pocket toform a group, wherein the upwardly directed side of the plate presents aplurality of flutes each centered on a respective channel, extendingparallel with the longitudinal axis of the cigarette, presenting aconcave face directed toward the channel and provided with at least onehole connected to a source of negative pressure by way of a pneumaticcircuit.
 12. A device as in claim 11 , wherein the pneumatic circuit isequipped with valve means operating cyclically and to a predeterminedtiming sequence in conjunction with the transfer device.
 13. A device asin claims 11 and 12, wherein the at least one hole is located in aposition on the flute near to the opening in the rear wall of thedischarge outlet.
 14. A device as in claim 13 , wherein the hole is ofelongated appearance, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis andestablishing a slot.
 15. A device as in claims 11 to 14 , wherein eachflute presents a plurality of holes and at least one slot disposedsubstantially in alignment with the holes and in a position near to theopening in the rear wall of the discharge outlet.